Some extreme macro pics from my small garden

This insect was truly microscopic...

In between editing school concerts the last month, I have been stalking tiny insects in my garden using my Nikon D3100, SB 700 flash, a set of manual extension tubes and a 50mm Nikon A lens. It is amazing the diversity of insects that you can find if you look for them. There where quite a few awesome looking insects that flew away before I could even get off the first shot. This is the nature of stalking insects with a macro set up. It drives me to keep trying.I have found that shooting in live view mode and using a video loop has produced the best results.

Compound eyes are watching you..

A leaf hopper...

This larger fly let me take her portrait...

This fly has been though the wars...

This tiny ant was dragging a dead fly all over the place.

My macro set up....

House fly, taken with Nikon D3100

Insect macro is hard work. After an hour of looking around my garden, I came across this house fly. I took 10 photos using the Nikon D3100, a set of manual extension tubes, 50mm F1.8 D lens at F16 and a speelight at 1/8 power. This was the only one that was sharp..... Still, an awesome shot....

Some interesting insects from my garden-Nikon D3100

I spent half an hour taking some macro pics today in my tiny garden and came up with two very cool insects. The wind was blowing a bit which meant that I took a lot of pics and came up with 3 usable ones... Such is the life of a macro insect photographer.. Its often hard work but O so rewarding....
Enjoy... and please post some insect macro pics that you have taken, would love to see...
Regards Sean Mills

Shooting Macro with the Canon 7D and extension tubes Vs close up filters

I took some nice pics today using my Canon 7D and 50mm F1.8 lens reversed on a set of extension tubes. For a comparison in magnification I also have a beetle that I took with the extension tubes and then with the 50mm F 1,8 lens and a set of magnification filters. I used Kenko close up filters with the No 1, No2 and No 3 filters stacked on top of each other. This allows you to focus much closer with full aperture, shutter and auto-focus control, but you can't focus as close as with the extension tubes.

I have a also included a photo of a match head on a canon lens carp to show the difference in magnification between the close up filters on a 50mm lens and a set of manual extension tubes and a 50mm F1,8 lens reversed on top, As you can see, the amount of magnification is dramatic, and this was not even a full set of extension tubes....

 Using the extension tubes and reversed 50mm F1.8 lens

 Using the 50mm F1,8 lens and set of Kenko close up filters.

Using the extension tubes and reversed 50mm F1,8 A lens.

 Taken with the Canon 7D and 50mm F1,8 lens and a full set of Kenko Close up filters.

Taken with the Canon 7D, a set of manual extension tubes and a 50mm F1,8 A lens reversed on top of the tubes.

Some macro insects taken with the Nikon D 3100

I took these extreme macro images in my garden using a Nikon D3100, Nikor 50mm F1.8 A lens on a set of extension tubes.

 The World of macro photography and especially insect photography is for me very exciting, when you can take a detail that is so small that it escapes our attention and then bring it into focus for all to see and appreciate. Every day is different and there are new experiences around every corner, bush and wall just waiting to be discovered.  The good news is that if you have a compact camera with a macro function, then you can start taking pictures of insects in your garden today.

I would love to see some of your macro insect pics, please post some in the comments section.

Daddy long legs

Taken with the Nikon D3100 and 50mm f1.8 lens on a set of extension tubes

Some garden macro pics

Taken with the Canon 7D, extension tubes and a reversed 50mm F1.8 lens. Also used a Canon external flash and small soft box. I love shooting tiny insects even though it can be very challenging to get a great image. It is really tough to focus properly and get close enough to the insects without scaring them but the rewards can be great if you get it right. Wind still days are best for this type of photography though...